Scaffold-Based and Scaffold-Free Testicular Organoids from Primary Human Testicular Cells

Abstract

Organoid systems take advantage of the self-organizing capabilities of cells to create diverse multi-cellular tissue surrogates that constitute a powerful novel class of biological models. Clearly, the formation of a testicular organoid (TO) in which human spermatogenesis can proceed from a single-cell suspension would exert a tremendous impact on research and development, clinical treatment of infertility, and screening of potential drugs and toxic agents. Recently, we showed that primary adult and pubertal human testicular cells auto-assembled in TOs either with or without the support of a natural testis scaffold. These mini-tissues harboured both the spermatogonial stem cells and their important niche cells, which retained certain specific functions during long-term culture. As such, human TOs might advance the development of a system allowing human in vitro spermatogenesis. Here we describe the methodology to make scaffold-based and scaffold-free TOs.

Comparison of two methods for prolong storage of decellularized mouse whole testis for tissue engineering application: An experimental study

“…The use of decellularized tissues in clinics is increasing, but one of the major limitations for their clinical application is the lack of a standard protocol for the long-term preservation of these scaffolds. Recently, the application of decellularized testicular scaffold for spermatogenesis induction has increased (17)(18)(19).…”

Optimization of decellularized human placental macroporous scaffolds for spermatogonial stem cells homing

“…About 15% of couples have infertility problems, half of which are related to men [ 1 ]. In recent years, many techniques have improved fertility in men [ 2 , 3 ]. Therefore, after a century of studies of spermatogenesis in different species, it is still a good way to treat infertility in people with congenital testicular abnormalities (Klein–Filter syndrome, cryptorchidism, and androgen insensitivity syndrome), azoospermic men who do not have spermatids, and also, there are no immature patients with cancer who have suffered spermatogenic cell damage during chemotherapy and radiotherapy [ 4 ].…”

Tissue Engineering to Improve Immature Testicular Tissue and Cell Transplantation Outcomes: One Step Closer to Fertility Restoration for Prepubertal Boys Exposed to Gonadotoxic Treatments

“…Germ cells could be seeded after in vitro and in vivo maturation [ 20 ] in testicular tissue decellularized matrix [ 161 , 162 ] to produce organoids, relying on the ability of mammalian cells to reproduce multi-cellular structures outside the body [ 163 ]. The knowledge resulting from these studies will certainly play a major role in the studies focalizing on the physiology of the testicle and could offer alternative models to the cell xenografting assay.…”